U.S., Canada and Mexico: A new vision of competitive clout

Wanted: Government leadership for the North American economy

• Border security and efficiency. The border is a mess. Security concerns trump the movement of legitimate cargoes and travelers. Inspection needs to be moved away from the borders, and processes automated. Make the border a point of data collection with additional inspection only as necessary. It’s time to give the Department of State and the Department of Commerce a larger role in planning so that trade and foreign policy become part of the border equation.

• Infrastructure. Government investment in roads, bridges, ports both at the borders and in the interior of our countries is key for competitiveness.

• Human capital. We must improve our education systems in all three countries and we need to make it easier for the citizens of any of the countries to work in the other two.

• Energy. North America should meet substantially all of its domestic energy needs within the next two decades, providing us a competitive advantage. We need to develop technologies for lower carbon energy and energy efficiency; improve the security and reliability of cross-border infrastructure and offshore safety standards; align regulatory standards for smart grids and renewable energy; reduce regional and local barriers and facilitate cross-border sales of energy; and align clean energy incentive programs.

This will not become a reality unless the United States takes the lead. U.S. leaders shy away from talking about North America, preferring the potential benefits of deals with Asia and Europe over the hard work and political challenges of making North America a single market.

We must recognize once and for all that Mexico and Canada are our partners and act on the San Diego Agenda. The first step is a new vision for North America competitiveness, an idea of what we want to become. Separately we are three very important countries. Together we are a powerhouse.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Wanted: Government leadership for the North American economy

Burnham is co-chairman of Smart Border Coalition. Shapiro is president of the Institute of the Americas at UC San Diego.